Monday 3rd June – windsurf **** The Manor, Felixstowe – sunny periods and warm

F2 Xantos 310 with 44 cm fin and Tushingham Lightning 8.5.

Fin – 25.15 knot max., 22.42 knot ave., 15.22 knot hour, 23.20 knot mile, 56.60 km., 14.56 knot alpha.

Today looked the best bet for a sail this week so after a few messages on WhatsApp it seemed the foilers were going to Alton and Levington but a few were going to The Manor when the wind switched from W to SW in the afternoon.  We could have a relaxing morning at home, exercises in the garden and then I wanted to test my new GW - 60 ( gps watch) a replacement for a faulty one so Mag and I got the bikes out and headed down to Peewit caravan site to see the Hurrells new caravan. It was hard going biking into a head wind. Slightly cross off but looking promising for a windsurf later. We had a nice catch up with Linda and Neil after admiring their new van we enjoyed a cuppa on the deck. We the trees rustling I helped Neil hitch his trailer before Mag and I headed home. After a quick bite to eat I headed down to The Manor to find Neil Hurrell, Andy Mexome and Mark Swain already there. We all opted for around 8m with me rigging 8.5 for the big Xantos as it was wind with tide so you needed a big board and fin to keep you upwind. I was first out with the plan of going for an hour on the gps which is approximately 8 runs out to Wadgate post about a mile and a half out to sea. With the wind a fraction off you were actually sailing to the left of the post in some really smooth sea and well powered up too. My eight runs went OK although the wind dropped in patches but we were planing most of the time the only negative being you had to beat both ways to stay in the same spot, although I did make a little way up Landguard beach but the wind did swing from time to time which meant you quickly lost what little you gained upwind! Then the wind went light and I nearly came ashore but it filled in to 18 knots, the most we got so I went for a mile run and was pleased to get a 23 kt N/Mile with a 25 kt max and a 15kt hour, not bad on big kit. The 310 long board does track along nicely with 8.5 but can be a pain to gybe not helped by the wind being lighter on the inside and also you could sail out of the wind far out. I had trouble with my sail as some stitching had come undone and I actually lost a cam! In the end I was out nonstop for over two hours covering 56km and we were joined by Ian Clark and everyone had a good sail made even better when the sun came out:)

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